CM Nitish Kumar and senior BJP leaders with PM Modi.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Taking over Pashupati Kumar Paras’ Lok Janshakti Party (Rashtriya) and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party Hindustani Awam Morcha – Secular, today the National Democratic Alliance may come out with a plan for distribution of 40 seats of Bihar for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Based on the meeting with Manjhi on Thursday and earlier talks with other constituents including Paras, Bharatiya Janata Party State President and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary had said that information about seat sharing will be available on Friday. While all eyes will be on BJP regarding the announcement of seat sharing, the constituent parties will also keep an eye on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regarding the cabinet expansion.
Manjhi’s party stakes claim on Gaya Lok Sabha
If sources are to be believed, in Bihar NDA BJP 17, JDU 16, LJP (Ram Vilas) four, in the remaining three seats LJP (Paras faction) one, Upendra Kushwaha’s party Rashtriya Lok Morcha one and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party Hindustani Awam Morcha. Can get a seat. Manjhi’s party has also staked claim on Gaya Lok Sabha seat. If Mukesh Sahni comes with NDA then he can also be given a seat. In such a situation, JDU or BJP may have to leave one seat. However, Mukesh Sahni wants to contest from Muzaffarpur seat. Ajay Nishad had won from here in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on BJP ticket.
JDU clear, many crises within BJP
The second list of Bharatiya Janata Party candidates is likely to come out with or after the notification of the Election Commission for the Lok Sabha elections. It is also possible that BJP may first announce candidates for 13 of the seats it won in Bihar in 2019, except four seats including Patna Sahib. On the other hand, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party Janata Dal United has given green signal to candidates on 13 of its 16 won seats. JDU is in some confusion regarding three seats, on which churning is going on in the party.